I see a lot of new reboxed bikes coming into our workshop from customers purchasing discounted bikes on the internet.
Most bikes come in oversized boxes and should require stem turning/securing and pedals attaching – most come with a assembly manual and often a cheap pedal spanner and multi tool.
Some bikes come in the original box so have been partially dismantled and require a mechanic to reassemble using tools and a torque wrench.
I’ve probably done about 100 this year £40 “safety check”, many are insurance replacement as well as some bikes coming from chain retailers in London.
It’s pretty shocking how many fail a safety check – you can tell it’s been flung together with little care. Some were downright dangerous.
My own experience of buying a super six Evo from Evans was eye opening. The bike was presented to me in a condition that would have been a cytech 1 fail or ‘no thanks’ in a mechanic’s job interview test build.
This was despite a fancy owners pack including a fancy PDI sheet (box ticking exercise) which told me the mechanic had secured the pedals which were not supplied nor fitted! I then asked for the pedals and was told the bike was not supplied with them. I showed them their PDI sheet which seemed to confuse them.
After walking home 3 miles pushing the bike, and getting fobbed off by customer services…no thanks!
